Hello everyone! I’ve been away from the blog this past week—apologies for the silence. I celebrated my birthday over the weekend and had hoped to get my hair braided, but time simply ran out. Lately it feels like there’s never enough time in a day; my to‑do list can be overwhelming and just thinking about … Read more

Homemade Vanilla Extract is far superior to store-bought. Use it to elevate cakes, cookies, frostings and more. You only need two ingredients and a little patience. I recently shared videos of my homemade vanilla extract on Instagram and Facebook stories, and many of you asked for the recipe. So here it is! Making vanilla extract … Read more

Cameroonian Sese Plantains is a flavorful one-pot meal made with green plantains, red palm oil, dried fish, crayfish and other aromatic ingredients. This hearty dish is perfect for dinner and delivers a pleasant smoky depth from the dried seafood and palm oil. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite Cameroonian dishes: Sese Plantains (also called … Read more

Easy Dinner Rolls are soft, buttery, and ready in one hour. These one-hour dinner rolls are perfect when you want fresh yeasted bread without spending hours in the kitchen. These rolls are no-knead, low-effort, and exceptionally tender. If you need bread quickly—without long kneading sessions or extended rises—this is the recipe to use. With only … Read more

Tomato Fish Stew is a fragrant, tomato-forward dish that pairs beautifully with rice, pasta or plantains—an ideal family dinner that’s both comforting and full of flavor. Tomato-based stews are a staple across West Africa and are a familiar comfort food for many households. In Cameroon, where I grew up, tomato stews come in several variations—commonly … Read more

Back home in Africa there are a few surprises Americans rarely mention—one of them is finding garden eggs at a local market. I was thrilled to discover them at the farmers’ market and immediately thought of the many ways they are enjoyed across West and Central Africa. Garden egg, often called Njakatu in Cameroon, is … Read more

African Spinach Stew with Chicken and Shrimp — a vibrant, comforting dish ready in about 30 minutes once your ingredients are prepped. This tasty, nutritious stew pairs perfectly with boiled plantain, cassava (yuca), rice, or fufu. For convenience, use plain frozen chopped spinach: thaw it, squeeze out excess water, and you’re ready to go. If … Read more

I went back to my room that day and wept. The drama I had watched spoke straight to my heart, portraying the final destinies of two lives: one entering heaven and the other going to hell. Though I already believed in heaven and hell, seeing those realities acted out made them feel even more immediate … Read more

These Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies are studded with chocolate chips and lightly spiced with cinnamon for a warm, comforting flavor. They bake quickly—under 10 minutes—and come out with crisp edges and a chewy center. Simple, cozy, and addictive, they’re sure to become a favorite cookie recipe. These cookies combine a slightly chewy center with perfectly … Read more

Cakes are back on the blog! I’d taken a short break from posting cake recipes — though the collection here already includes a few favorites — but a friend’s enthusiastic description of lemon- and orange‑zested bakes pulled me right back into the kitchen. I had promised myself a no‑cooking Sunday, and I mostly kept it, … Read more